Frank Russo reports to federal prison

Former Cuyahoga County Auditor Frank Russo has reported to a federal prison in Lorreto, Pennsylvania.

Russo arrived about 11:30 a.m., dropped off by a Mercedes with Ohio license plates, driven by an unidentified man. The driver left alone about a half hour later, presumably to begin the four-hour trip back to Cleveland.

Russo immediately began the orientation process for new inmates, which includes the issue of prison pants, shirt, and jacket, and a series of meetings, which can extend into several days.

When Russo might walk out a free man from the Loretto Federal Correctional Institution won't be known for at least several months.

That's because Russo's work isn't done yet. Russo, who testified against his former partner in crime, Jimmy Dimora, is still scheduled to testify again, this time against attorney Anthony Calabrese III in February.

Calabrese is a Cleveland attorney indicted on multiple corruption-crimes and racketeering. Russo is facing 22 years but it's not set in stone.

U.S. District Court Judge Sara Lioi could agree to reduce Russo's sentence in exchange for his cooperation with prosecutors, but that won't be decided until maybe after he takes the stand against Calabrese in February.

Until then, Russo will live alongside 1,300 other prisoners in a small room where it will cost taxpayers about $73 a day.